Method of and apparatus for honing workpieces



July 4, 1939. BLOOD 2,164,868

METHOD Ol AND APPARATUS FOR HONING WORKPIECES Filed July 24, 1956 s Sheets-Sheet 1 9- 'JIn-oca Lscoaa July 4, 1939. H .10 0 2,164,868

' METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR HONING WORKPIECES Filed July 24, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet. 2-

JEN-0C3 LTBCoo? my MM 4 July 4, .1939.

H. L. BLOOD 2,164,868

Filed July 24, 1936 s Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented July 4, 1 939 2,184,868 sm'rnon or AND mnaa'rus roa HONING woaxrm Harold L. Blood, Worcester, Mass assignor to The Heald Machine Company,

Worcester,

. Mara, a corporation of Massachusetts Application July 24, 1938, Serial No. 92,396 Claims. (01.,51-105) The present invention relates to an apparatus by which annular workpieces may be honed on the inner surfaces and to a method by which such honing may be performed.

In the honing of cylindrical workpieces a relative axial reciprocation is provided between the hones and the workpiece surface in order to obtain a contact between the hones and the work over the entire surface being honed, thus avoiding honing lines and producing the desired smooth or reflective surface free from any small depressions or noticeable scratches, Such reciprocation is entirelypossible where the workpiece is cylindrical as the hone or the work may be carried by a reciprocatory table comparable to the reciprocating table of the usual internal grinding machine. The honing of tapered surfaces, such as the bearing surface forroller bearings has also been accomplished in a machine which provides for a relative reciprocation between-the work and hones by providing a resilient mounting for the individual honing members. One example of this type of hone is shown in applicants copending application Serial No. .861, filed March 20, 1936.

Either of the arrangements above referredto, for cylindrical or tapered surfaces is not applicable to the honing of ball races, spherical bearings and other workpieces where the surface being honed is curved in a diametrical plane since I the hone cannot accommodate its operative sur-' face to the surface of the workpiece if the latter is so curved. One of the principal objects of the present invention is to provide for the honing of workpieces of this character, at the same time making possible the equivalent of .a relative reciprocation of the hone over the workpiece.

In the honing of workpieces it is possible, by controlling the grade of the honing material. as 0 well as other variable factors entering into honing, to produce a reflective smooth surface, and also to have the workpieces reduced to the desired size within very small limits. It has been found. however, that a honing operation that leaves a mirror-like finish is not always acceptable to the trade since the workpiece does not have the familiar honing 'lines which extend in herringbone fashion over the honed surface. These lines, which are frequently'aresult of a honing 0 operation, and which indicate in general the direction of movement of the hones over the work, have been recognized as indicating a honed surface. These lines do not aflect the usefulness or salability of the workpiece, but do give to the I workpiece a honed appearance. A further obie ct of the invention is accordingly to provide for a movement of the hones over the workpiece surface in such a manner that these markscan be produced, if necessary, without the provision of ,a reciprocation of the hones as a unit relative 5 to the workpiece.

According to the present invention the axis ofrotation of the workpiece is out of line with or atan angle of less than 180 to the axis of rotation of the hones and as the work and hones 10 are given a relative rotation, each hone will have a sinuous path over the workpiece surface and the hones will thus have the equivalent of a reciprocation relative the workpiece. A further object of the present invention is accordingly to 5 devise a machine by which this honing operation may be carried out in practice, which will provide for the desired honing effect on the workpiece and which will be commercially operable.

Other and further objects and advantagesof the invention will appear from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of the machine embodying the invention. a

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the machine of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view substantially on the line 3-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view showing 3 the mechanism for retracting the hones to per-- mit separaticn'of the hone from the work.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the hone carrying elements.

Fig. 6 is a view corresponding to Fig. 3, show- 35 ing a-modiiiedform of the invention.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the different figures.

With reference first to Figs. 1 and 2, the machine by which the honing operation above re- 40 ferred to may be carried out embodies a base i' having ways, not shown, on which is mounted, for reciprocation, a table 2. The table may support either the hones or the workpiece and in the modification shown the table has mounted there- 5 on a workhead 3 in which is positioned a spindle 4 having at one end thereof a suitable workholding chuck i of any desired construction and having at the opposite end a pulley 0 for rotation of the chuck. The workpiece a is suitably mounted in the chuck i in a position for engagement by the hones I which are carried by a honing head I mounted on a bridge 0 secured to the base The table! is moved in a direction parallel to the axis of the spindle 4 to bring the workpiece and hones into operative relation to each other by any suitable means, which may be the usual hydraulic table control. In the arrangement shown the movement of the table is controlled by a suitable control lever ll, turning of which procures movement of the table to the left until a positive stop II on the base is engaged by a dependent dog carried by the table, at which time the workpiece and hones are in proper position for the honing operation. Separation of the workpiece from the hones is procured by movement of the lever II in the opposite direction, or, as will be apparent, may be procured automatically after a predetermined period for honing. Such mechanism is not a feature of the present invention and need not be further described. It is understood that the table is moved to the left for bringing the hones and workpiece into operative relation. and is then shifted to the right to separate the workpiece and hones by any desired mechanical or hydraulic arrangement.

. Also mounted in the base is the switch boxll by -.ment of the angular ,which the driving motor for rotating the workpiece and hones, as well as for actuating the table mechanism, may be started and stopped. This mechanism is also well known and need not bedescribedin detail.

bolts I. The heads. 01' the bolts 1. are 9081- -tioned in T-shaped slots l1 extending transversely of the bridge and the plate has arcuate .siots"ll and II so arranged as to permit adiustposition of the head on'ithe machine so that the honing head 2 will exte'i' d, as shown, at an angle of less than 180 to the axis of rotation of the workpiece. It will be understood that either the hone structure or the workholding chuck may be mounted for angular adjustment, since the essential feature is to provide for obtaining an adjustment of the relative angular position of the elements- Referring now to-Fig. 3-, the hone isfin many respects, similar to that described in the Blood application Serial No. 69,861, filed March 20, 1936, above referred to. The hone support comprises a head 20 having .an axial bore 2i in which a spindle 22 is axially slidable. The head has a radially extending key 23 engaging with a keyway 24 in the spindle to hold the latter against rotation. The head 24 has a plurality ofradially extending slots 26 in each of which is positioned av hone carrying lever 26, shown'in perspective in Fig. 5. The spindle 22 has an 'arcuate shoulder head 20 provides for attachment of said head 21 engageable with a part of each lever 26 for rocking said levers. A cylindrical hub 28 on the with the hones mounted thereon, on the .end of a spindle, hereinafter more fully described, journaled in the honin'ghead l. Surrounding the head 20 adjacent the base of the slots is an annular member 29 having an inwardly extending radial flange I0 spaced from the base of the slots The member 29 fits .overa cylindrical surface II on the h adandis held in position bymachine screws! one of the (latter also holding the key '2: i position:

. Each lever 26 has an arcuate lug ll at one end thereof for engagement with the inner or right hand surface of the flange 20, and midway between the ends of the lever is provided an.

protuberance'the lever tapers toward its other .end, with the inner surface of the lever extending substantially parallel to and spaced slightly from the surface of the spindle 22. The outer surface of the lever has parallel upwardly extending flanges 25, Fig.- '5, between which is located a recess 28 to receive a protruding lug 21 on a plate 28 which fits between th flanges 25. A honing member 29 is secured in any suitable manner to the plate 22, as by an adhesive.

The plate II is or a suitable width to be received securely between the flanges 35 and each end of the plate is bentto form hooks 40, for engagement with annular springs 4| and .42 which hold the hones in position on the levers and which allow a slight expansion or contraction of the hones. Another annular spring 43 engages in notches 44 in the severallevers 26 to hold the levers in engagement with the spindle 22. A cap the hones by a screw 48 to protect the hones against damage. The springs 4|, 42 and 43, exert,

at all times, a radial pressure tending to collapse the hone structure and this collapsing results from an axial movement of the spindle to the right within the head, the arcuate shoulder withdrawing from the protuberances 34, to allow the levers to swing inwardly. Similarly, axial movement of the spindle to the left-will procure expansion of the hones, bymoving the leverswith the hones thereon-outwardly into the position of Fig. 3 for engagement with the workpiece a, which, in the construction shown, is a spherical bearing. v

The hone and supporting structure above described. are mounted on the end of a rotatable spindle 41, Figs. 3 and 4, which is threaded, as at 48, for engagement with screw threads 49 on the inside of the cylindrical hub 28, as shown in Fig. 3. The end of the hub engages with a radial flange 50 provided by the spindle 41 and the latter has an axial bore 5| to receive the end of the spindle 22 in which is positioned a bolt 52 having a locking nut 53 thereon. This bolt may be adjusted to provide for adapting the hone structure to actuating mechanism associated with the spindle and hereinafter described.

- Referring now to Fig.4, the spindle 41, which is supported by any suitable bearings 54, Fig.3, in the boring head 8, has an actuating rod 65 axially slidable ,therethrough. The rod has spaced collars 56 and 51 between which is located a compression coil spring 58 which normally urges the right hand collar 51, which is attached to the rod, to the right, carrying the rod therewith, movement of the rod being limited by a sleeve 59 having a tight fit within the bore of the spindle '41. The collar 56 is slidable on the rod 55 and engages with a shoulder 60 provided within the spindle 41, where the axial bore 5| becomes smaller. The rod 55 is held against turning movement relative to the spindle 41 by a key 6| engaging an elongated keyway 62 in a clamping nut '63, the latter having an axial bore to receive the rod.. nut 63 has external threads engaging with t einternally threaded tight fit with a cylindrical portion 66 of the sleeve 41. This pulley is connected by belts to any suitable driving motor and thereby provides for a positive rotation of spindle and the hones carried thereby.

' In the internally threaded recess 61 at the left 2,184,868 hand end of the pulley 85 is located a threaded ring 68 spaced from the end surface 69 engaged by the flange 84. The left hand end of the rod 55 has a sleeve 18 secured thereto by a key ll engaging an elongated keyway 12 in the sleeve 18, and the right hand end of said sleeve is ex- 'ternally threaded to' engage with an internally threaded sleeve 18 held in position by a locking nut 14. The sleeve 18 has a radial flange engageablewith an inwardly projecting flange 18 on the ring 68. The ,glange I5 is located on the right of the flange I5, Fig. 4, to limit the movement of the sleeve I8 to the left.

The left hand end of the sleeve 18 engages with an adjustable nut TI on the threaded left hand end of the rod 55, said nut 11 being held in adjusted position by a clamping nut 18. The sleeve 18 has, on the left hand end thereof, a piston 18 slidable in a horizontal bore 88 in a member 8| mounted on the plate l4 and forming a part of the boring head. The member 8| has a smaller bore 82 in which the sleeve 18 is slidable and leakage of fluid around said sleeve is prevented by a packing nut 88 surrounding the sleeve 18 and in threaded engagement with the member 8|.-

Admission of fluid under pressure to the right hand side of the piston I9 procures a movement of said piston and of the rod 55 to the left. This admission of fluid under pressure is controlled by a 3-way valve 84' having a pressure connection 85, an exhaust connection 86 and 'a connefction 81 to a channel 88 in the member 8|, said channel leading to the inner end of the bore 88. When the valve 84 is turned to provide fluid connection from the source of fluid pressure to the bore 88, the piston is moved to the left, earrying therewith. therod 55 to withdraw the head 89 on the right hand end of said rod from engagement with the bolt 52 (the head 89 moving to the right in Fig. 3), allowing the hone to col-' lapse to provide for a withdrawal of the hone from within the bore of the workpiece.

In operation, with the machine parts in the position of Figs. ,1 and 2, the valve 84 is turned so that the piston 19 is urged as far to the left, Fig. 4, as possible, this movement being limited by the interengaging flanges I5 and Hi. This movement of the piston allows the hones to collapse under the action of the springs 4| and 42 sothat the hones may enter the workpiece. The control lever I8 is then shifted to procure movement of the table 2 to bring the hones and work into operative relation, as in Fig. 3. When this has occurred, the valve 84 is turned to allow the fluid in the bore 88 to exhaust so that the spring 58 may act through the head 89 to urge the spindle 22 to the left, Fig. 3, thereby expanding the hones into the operative position of this flgure. The hones and the work are then both rotated. preferably in the same direction, but at different rates of speed, to provide for a honin operation. It will be apparent that the relative rate of speeds may be varied to suit any desired conditions, but for certain types of work the relative 'ratesof speed are such that the resultant marks on the workpiece give"the'fairiiliar herringbone effect which isso readily recognized as the result of a honing operation. movement of the head 89 is limited by engagement between the piston 19 and the end of the bore, and the inward position of the head is adjusted by turning the nut I1 as in compensating for .wear on the hones. 1

It will be readilyapparent from the showing The inward of- Figs. 1, 2 and 3, that asthe hones and workpiece rotate, with one of the elements rotating faster than the other, the hones are given a relative reciprocation over the workpiece in addition to the circumferential relative rotation. This will best appear from Fig. 3, where one hone 89 overlies the left hand end of the workpiece and the hone on the opposite side of the head overlies the right. hand end of the workpiece. As the hones rotate each hone thus moves laterally relative to the workpiece as a result of the angular position of the hone and workpiece axes. Certain conditions must exist in the honing of workpieces of this character, as for example, the outer or operative surface of the hones must be shaped to conform to the shape of the surface being honed and the axes of the workpiece and -of the honesmust intersect substantially at a point which is also the center of curvature of the surface being honed. It is clear that a greater or less relative reciprocation may be procured'by a greater or smaller angle of divergence between the axis of the workpiece and the axis of th hones. This resultant reciprocation of the ones over the workpiece is chtained without the necessity fora mechanical reciprocation of either, the hone or the workpiece. v

The same honing structure and method above described are equally applicable to the honing of the race ways for ball bearings where the surface being honed must be substantially arcuate in a diametrical plane. With reference to Fig. 6, the supporting structure for the bone is similar to that above described and incorporates a spindle 22' having positioned ing a plurality of slots 25' in which are located the hone supporting levers 28'.

The levers 26' are held in position by the annular member 29 held in position by bolts, not shown, corresponding to the bolts 82. The levers 26 have notches to receive springs 43' which hold the levers in position, and each lever has thearcuate lug 33' and the arcuate protuberance 34 corresponding to similar parts on the lever 84. The end of the lever 28' remote from the arcuate end 88' also has an arcuate lug 98 to engage with an arcuate recess 9| in an arm 92 on which is positioned a hone holder 88. The holder carries a hone 89 having its outer surface of a shape to correspond to the groove 93 in the workpiece a. Eachend of the holder 88' has arcuate lugs 48' to receive the annular springs M and 42. Thewsprings 4| and 42' hold the arms 92 against the end of the levers 28' and still allow rocking movement tive to the levers to permit oscillation of the hones during the relative rotation of the hone and workpiece.

It will be apparent from Fig. 6 that the hones rock about the lugs 98, and thus provide for a lateral movement of the hones relative to the surface of the workpiece during the relative roof the arms relathereonthehead 28' havtation of the hone and workpiece, so that the this movement being entirely independently of any reciprocation of the hones or work as aunlt axially of the other element. If, for the salability of the workpiece, the usual herringbone shaped honing lines are desired, the relative rotation of the hone and workpiece together with arcuate in a diametrical a movement of the hone 55 at diilerent speeds the oscillation resulting from the angularity of the parts will produce the desired honing lines,

provided, of course, that the rates of rotation of the parts is correct and thatthe hones are not 5 allowed to operate long enough to entirely elimithreaded to engage with the threads 48 on the spindle in the boring head. when the hones are mounted in this manner, they can be collapsed to permit axial withdrawal of the hones from the workpiece, by withdrawing the end of the rod 55 from engagement with the bolt 52, which corresponds to the bolt 52 above and is in threaded engagement with the inner end of spindle 22'.

I claim. 1. In the method of honing workpieow, the

steps which involve providing a plurality ofindividual hones uniformly spaced from a predetermined axis and rotating a workpiece while in engagement with said hones with the axis of rotation of the workpiece at an angle of less than 180 to the axis about which the hones are positioned.

2. In the method of honing annular surfaces arcuate in a diametrical plane, with a lateral movement of the hone relative to the honed surface as well as a"rotary movement, the step which involves providing a hone having a surface shaped to conform to the surface to be honed, and rotating both the workpiece and hone at diii'erent speeds with their axes of rotation out oi parallel relation.

3. In the method of honing annular surfaces plane, with a lateral movement of the hone relative to the honed surface as well as a rotary movement, the step a which involves providing a hone having a surface shaped to conform to the surface to-be honed, and rotating both the workpiece and hone at diil'erent speeds with their axes of rotation out of parallel relation, with the axes of rotation substantially in a plane passing through the center of curvature of the surface being honed.

4. In themethod of honing annular surfaces arcuate in a diametrical plane, with a lateral relative to the honed surface' as well as a rotary movement, the step which involves providing a hone having a surface shaped to conform to the surface to be honed, and rotating both the workpiece and. hone with their axes of rotation out of parallel relation, said hone being resiliently held against the workpiece. 5. In a. hone for the honing of surfaces arcuate in a diametrical plane, a plurality of honing on members, each having an arcuate honing sur- Eageable with the end of each lever opposite to the pivotal connection of said lever, an axially members,

i said members and-levers in gageable with the for contracting said hone by an axial movement of the spindle. v

6. In a hone for the honing of surfaces arcuate in a diametrical plane, a plurality of honing members, each having an arcuate honing surface, a lever for each member, a pivotal connection between the lever and the member thereon, a-

ate'surface engageable with a corresponding surface on each lever, said head being rotatable about an axis coinciding with the spindle. and

the'pivotal connection between the hones and the levers being spaced from the axis of rotation of the head.

7. In a hone for the honing ofsurfaces. arcuate in a diametrical plane, a plurality of honing each having an arcuate honing surface, a lever for each member, a pivotal connection between the leverand the member thereon, a head for the hones providing a support for the levers, said head having a surface engageable with the end of each lever opposite to the pivotal connection of said lever, an axially movable spindle within the head, said spindle having an 'arcuate surface engageable with a'corresponding surface on each lever, and resilient means holding cooperating engagement with the head and spindle, said resilient means allowing the members to rock relative to the levers.

8. In a honing machine, ,a hone adapted for internal honing,- a spindle engageable with said hone, a coil spring for moving the spindle in one direction to expand the hone, fluid pressure means including a piston on the spindle for moving the spindle in the opposite direction against the action of the spring, and means enspindle and adjustable axially of the spindle for limiting the movement of the spindle by said spring for determining the expanded position of the hone.

9. In the method of honing workpieces, the steps which involve providing a hone comprising a plurality of angularly spaced honing elements. and rotating the hone and a workpiece about axes out of parallel relation to each other with all of the honing-elements in simultaneous and continuous engagement. with the surface of the j workpiece being honed.

10. In'a honing machine, a rotary hone comprising an arbor, a plurality of angularly spaced honing elements carried by and movable relative to said arbor, and a lever supporting each of said elements and individually mounted for rocking movement about an axis at right. angles to the, axis of rotation.v of thearbor, and cooperating means on the lever and each ment to provide for rocking movement of the element relative to the lever rotary workpiece support having its axis out of parallel relation to the axis of rotation of the A hone arbor.

'maow L. snoop. f

corresponding ele- I about an axis at right angles to the axis of rotation of the arbor, and a 

